Chlamydia trachomatis detected in human placenta.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relation between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and stillbirth, placental tissue was studied for the presence of C trachomatis.


METHODS
Paraffin wax embedded placental tissue of a stillbirth fetus, born at the 36th week of gestation to a 21 year old mother with high serum antibody titres to C trachomatis immunotypes during pregnancy and who was culture positive to C trachomatis three years previously, was studied by in situ hybridisation, polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry for the presence of C trachomatis.


RESULTS
C trachomatis was detected in placental specimens by in situ hybridisation and alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase staining in several sections, whereas control tissues were uniformly negative, indicating the presence of C trachomatis nucleic acid and antigen in the placenta.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first reported case in which C trachomatis has been demonstrated in the human placenta.
Gencay
M
M
Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Puolakkainen
M
M
Wahlström
T
T
Ammälä
P
P
Mannonen
L
L
Vaheri
A
A
Koskiniemi
M L
ML
D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial